"Most of these defendants are involved in drug gangs, though lately a very small number come from terrorism cases. Some of these cooperating witnesses are among the most unsavory characters in America's courts — multiple murderers and drug dealers — but the public cannot learn whether their testimony against confederates won them drastically reduced prison sentences or even freedom."

So the cases are kept secret so the little guys can roll over on the big guys. NOW. In a couple years, who knows?

"In the nation's capital, which has had a serious problem with drug gangs murdering government witnesses, the secrecy has reached another level — the use of secret dockets. For hundreds of such defendants over the past few years in this city, should someone acquire the actual case number for them and enter it in the U.S. District Court's computerized record system, the computer will falsely reply, "no such case" — rather than acknowledging that it is a sealed case."

Cereselle? Never heard of her. I can't imagine what happened to her. But she's certainly not been kidnapped arrested and secretly held for a secret trial, and secretly sentenced to a secret prison.

I just hope they continue giving me my antianxiety meds while I'm there, or I'm toast.

WILL NO ONE END THIS FUCKING CONSPIRACY? Every day I tell myself it has to get better, that we'll win back the House in 2006. But that's what I said in 2000, and in 2004. They control so much of the voting infrastructure. And I'm not sanguine that people who routinely vote Republican will stop doing so just because of all the scandal and corruption. They don't want to hear about it. It doesn't fit their worldview, so they don't listen. Or if they do, they make excuses.

One of the dKos posters commented: "Lapham writes in "Gag Rule" that it is openly discussed at the AEI over poached salmon, that in their view the Constitution is inappropriate for the New America. Krugman also wrote about it in "The Great Unraveling." This may be hard to wrap our minds around, but really, it is not that they don't understand the Constitution; they just don't agree with it."

It's possible we could see the end of America in our lifetime. And I don't think a revolution would happen. The people have their Chipotle and American Idol. What more do they need?

The entire west coast is capable of surviving without the Federal Government. And if Dubya tries to send in the troops, we can politely inform him that we control all Pacific shipping.

Yes, I do think we could see the end of America as it has been for 200 plus years. But I think that there will be bastions of sanity that will not go down easily. Between the west coast, New York and New England, we control enough U.S. Resources to be able to stay Red.

I'm very concerned about the state of the next Presidential/Congressional election. No good candidates, too many "blind faith" voters, and the Moral "majority" is everywhere.The thought of Hillary/Condi is too much to bear. Can you imagine?